Halifax

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Nova Scotia / Halifax Wonderful

A travel journal to Halifax by samepenny

Atlantic OceanMore Photos

Halifax Nova Scotia is my favorate summer destination. Everything is wonderful. The people, the prices, the scenery! There are plenty of activities and fantastic scenery for those who wish just to enjoy the place in peace and quiet. What a pleasure! The more I look back at this trip, the more I enjoy the memories.

  • 11 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 27 photos

Nova Scotia / Halifax WonderfulBest of IgoUgo

Overview

BlueNose II
Many great things to do, but on the top of our list was eating. We experienced many fine restaurants both in Halifax and out and about Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. We stayed in one large hotel, several inns and cottages. We had a lot of fun. Put this area on your list of places to visit. It made for a fabulous vacation. Photos from TallShips2000.

Quick Tips:

Maritime Canada is wonderful! Take your time and enjoy a 'self drive' vacation or let a tour company organize your visit. In any case, don't rush! There is much to see and more to enjoy. I enjoyed being out on boats both sail and motor. Others enjoyed fishing and photography.

Best Way To Get Around:

We drove from place to place, but walked around Halifax and the many villages we visited. Public transportation is great in Halifax and Dartmouth. Reliable and inexpensive.

Cambridge Suites HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Cambridge Suites"

The Cidadel, Halifax
We had 2 identical suites, each overlooking Halifax Harbour. The best room layout I've ever seen. On the upper level in each suite was the bathroom, kitchette and the bedroom. On the lower lever (3 steps down) was a sitting room. Sliding panels could be adjusted in the bedroom so that you could see the wonderful view from the very large windows in the sitting room. Several large closets, plenty of drawers and shelves. The usual bath arrangement with 2 hair dryers. Buffet breakfast was included. Parking was extra and difficult for our giant-sized American SUV. The hotel is across the street from the Cididel, the most prominent landmark in Halifax. It is extremely well located for all downtown Halifax activities and is a 5 minute walk from the famous Spring Garden Road shopping (and eating) district. This hotel accepted my Discover card (rare in Nova Scotia). Pet peeve--indoor parking expensive and not friendly to our large American SUV. Click here for Cambridge Suites.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 11, 2000

Cambridge Suites Hotel
1583 BRUNSWICK STREET Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J3P5
902-420-0555

Hillsdale HouseBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

View from the Cape D'or LIghthouse
We had two rooms at Hillsdale House, one ordinary bedroom with bathroom and one suite. The bedroom was nice, the suite absolutely outstanding. Wonderful, full breakfasts are included in this very small inn built in 1949. The public rooms are very beautiful. The owners are a delight. The town is great and great fun. Parking is free and ample for large American SUV
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 14, 2000

Hillsdale House
St. George's Street Halifax, Nova Scotia

McKelvie'sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Mob of boats
Dining in Halifax is wonderful. The food is so fresh, service great and atmosphere very nice. Do it! I'm allergic to shellfish so while my friends eat everything in sight, I had a wonderful steak with fried potatoes! Desserts were great and gooey! The wine list was extensive, but expensive!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 11, 2000

McKelvie's
1680 Lower Water St Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2Y3
+1 902 421 6161

HMCS SackvilleBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "H.M.C.S. Sackville, Canada's Naval Memorial"

HMCS Sackville
This is an outstanding museum that includes the ship, HMCS Sackville, an interpretion center, and other outdoor displays. The ship is a World War II corvette, built in 1944. Admission is a donation when you go up on the ship. A couple dollars. It is very interesting to walk around this ship and to realize how small she is. That's a horrible, big ocean out there! It is open to the public June-September. This ship overlooks Halifax harbor and the area where many war ships departed in convoy during WWII. HMCS Sackville.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on November 24, 2000

HMCS Sackville
1675 Lower Water St Halifax, Nova Scotia B3K 5X5
+1 902 429 2132 summ

Bay of FundyBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Bay of Fundy, Beaches from Mars!"

Bay of Fundy, red cliffs
The variety of beaches along the Bay of Fundy is endless. It wasn't warm enough for me to swim, but other folks did. It was great to build a fire on the beach and watch the sun set and the stars come out. We searched for rocks and sea shells. We dined in wonderful often tiny restaurants. One in a lighthouse keeper's former house was great fun. Really a great area for 'do it yourself' fun. Not to forget the 45 foot difference between high and low tides. The highest tide fall in the world.

The degree of fascination is hard to explain. The sea comes and goes. Much of this area is unchanged is hundreds of years.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 11, 2000

Bay of Fundy
West Advocate Nova Scotia, Canada Halifax, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg Fisherman's FestivalBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The BlueNose II
We arrived by chance at the Fisherman's festival in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia and had a wonderful time. Great food, music and ships to tour. Including Theodore II. This happened August 19-20 in 2000. The Nova Scotia 'Doers and Dreamers' book has the listing. (1-800-565-0000). Lunenburg is so beautiful!

A little bit of the history of Lunenburg. It is named after a German city of the same name. Immigrants from that place came to Nova Scotia in 1753. Situated on a beautiful peninsula with a front and back harbour, the setting is very picturesque. There are many buildings in the style of German architecture some of which are historic inns.

We had so much fun! Great music as it featured the music of Nova Scotia's founding cultures: Celtic, Acadian, English and more. Telephone (902) 634-3180.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 11, 2000

Lunenburg Fisherman's Festival
Lunenburg Nova Scotia Halifax, Nova Scotia

Annapolis Royal Graveyard TourBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

You don't want to carry a toddler around on this tour which is offered twice a week all season. I adore Annapolis Royal. Can't say enough about it. This tour was a high point. You need to be in good shape. There's a lot of walking in the black dark over rough ground, graves etc, up and down steep stairs. Not handicapped accessible. Pet peeve--I missed out on taking the daylight tour of the town--no one's fault but my own.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 14, 2000

Annapolis Royal Graveyard Tour
graveyard at the fort Halifax, Nova Scotia

Fisheries Museum of the AtlanticBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Lunenburg has long been considered to be the most active fishing port in Nova Scotia. A great museum with a great gift shop also (priorities, please) on the harbour. Real ships to tour, a 'touch' tank for children, great guides/story tellers. Open seasonally (May thru Oct, telephone to find out). Best views of Lunenburg. (902) 634-4794 Restaurant and bar on the upper floor have a fantastic view, excellent food and drinks & very good service.

The two historic ships which are part of the museum are: the Theresa E. Conner and the Cape Sable.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 31, 2000

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
68 Bluenose Drive Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 634-4794

Barrington Woolen Mills MuseumBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

(902) 637-2185 Our eagle-eyed driver spotted this museum as we were going down the road. A stop very much worth making as the mill is exactly as it was the day it was shut down as a working mill. They still dye and hand spin some yarn which they sell in the shop--beautiful. The costumed guides are knowledgeable, kind and helpful. $2 each to get in and worth it.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 31, 2000

Barrington Woolen Mills Museum
Barrington Halifax, Nova Scotia
(902) 637-2185

Amos Pewter Store & WorkshopBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Amos Pewter Store & Workshop"

Mahone Bay is a treat and this shop is fantastic. On the waterfront. Fantastic items for sale. The workshop is open and you can visit with the people while they make the jewelry, serving pieces and art items. WOW! Don't miss this place. Mohone Bay is an outstanding area and certainly a great place to stay, eat, shop and enjoy! We bought pins and earrings fashioned in the shapes of cute animals.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by samepenny on October 31, 2000

Amos Pewter Store & Workshop
589 Main St. Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia detailsBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Bay of Fundy
I have always been fascinated by the Bay of Fundy and although I have seen it in prior years, I really got to see it on this trip. We stayed in a cottage called Driftwood in West Advocate Nova Scotia. It was a brand new, stylish cottage a few yards (meters) from the Bay. The owners are Gloria and Jacque LaMay. We found this cottage by using the Nova Scotia 'Doers and Dreamers' book. It's free at 1-800-565-0000. We used that book to make most of our reservations for lodging, meals etc. It's a wonderful book! We also made use of local information offices. Great places to get maps & ideas. The Driftwood cottages have an interesting layout. One of the cottages is all on one floor, the other 5 are two storey. Bedrooms and bath on the lower floor, kitchen, living room, deck on the upper floor where the view is. Renting cottages is a very popular thing in Nova Scotia. I strongly advise that you use the 'Doers and Dreamers' book and make your reservations as far in advance as possible. What a pleasure to be in Nova Scotia in August!

About the Writer

samepenny
samepenny
Fort Worth, Texas

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